Drinking-fountain.



H. H. NEWGOMB. DRINKING FOUNTAIN.

APPLICATION FILED APR.1,1909.

Patented Oct. 24, 1911.

I/VITNELSSES:

ATTORNEY.

UNITED %TA"1E% li e 1 lilhlft HARRY HOWARD NEWCOMB, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CORA AGNES BENNESON, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

DRINKING-FOUNTAIN.

:i ceases.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 2%, 1911.

Application filed April 1, 1909. Serial No. 487,212.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hixnnrl'lowsnp ilEW- (101m, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an imprm'ement in Drinking-Fountains, of which the foll wing description, in connection with the acconuianying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention. relates to drinking fountains and more particularly to those in which the water is intended to be drunk directly from the stream as it issues from the nozzle, without the use of any drinking vessel and without the mouth contacting with the nozzle, the object being to thus avoid the connnunication of disease.

While drinking fountains of the type as heretofore constructed have met the requirements to a certain extent, yet they are open to certain objections, and in some respects fail of the accomplishment of the object for which they are intended. For example, in all such drinking fountains, as heretofore used, the water is allowed to flow freely and continuously, thereby occasioning great waste. Furthermore, the nozzle 15 at all times fully exposed and therefore liable to become infections from handling, for example, by persons atliicted with contagious disrases or from the introduction thereinto of dirt or other unclean matter.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a drinking fountain of simple construction and operation, in which the above objections are overcome. These and other objects and features of my invention will best be understood from the following descript ion taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of a drinking foun taiu embodying one form of my invention and selected for the purpose of illustration, the scope of the invention being more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings :-Figure 1 is a front elevation of the drinking fountain,

embodying one form of the invention, the

frame being shown in section; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the drinking fountain shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof.

The frame comprises a column 1 having a circular base 2 and supporting a head 3 of any suitable shape. In the embodiment.

shown of the invention, this head is intended to contain a suitable coil 1 connected at its lower end to a supply pipe 5 leading to any suitable water supply. The head 3 is of sutlicient size to provide for the packing of the coil 4; in ice and is provided with a door (3 for'that purpose. The head is preferably of a general globular shape, flat.- tencd at the front and rear ends, as shown in Fi 2, to facilitate access to the nozzle when standing at the front of the fountain. Preferably, shown, the column and lower portions of the head are cast in a single piece, the upper portion being cast in another, Figs. 1 and 2, the two. castings being provided with flanges 7 and S, joined by bolts 7, 8, any suitable packing being interposed to render the joint water-tight. The lower end of the coil t is preferably tapped into the upper end of a nipple 9 cast integral with the bottom of the head 3, and having tapped into its lower end the upper end of the supply pipe 5. A. similar nipple 10 is proyided into which is tapped the upper end of a d ainage pipe 11. In the top of the head 3 there is provided an opening 12, preferably circular in shape, immediately beneath which is placed a basin 13, also preferably circular, having a discharge tube 14-. which may discharge directly into the ice receiving space, as shown, or may be extended to discharge into the discharge pipe 11. The upper portion of the coil 1 terminates in a tube 15 which is bent over the edge of the basin 13, continued down, as shown, approximately to its center, and then rises vertically, being terminated by suitable nozzle 16 situated just below the opening 12in the head and preferably in the mter thereof. The basin 1?) is sup ported by two brackets 17, 18, cast integral with the head or suitably attached to the inner wall thereof, Fig. 3.

The present invention contemplates the provision of means for covering the nozzle 16 and means to move said cover to and from operative position. To this end, in the embodiment of the invention shown. a. wide bracket 18 is attached to the. inner wall of the head 3, having a dovetailed guide or groove 19, in which slides a dovetailed slide 20, mounted on the outer end of which is a rectangularly bent carrier 21, having at its free end a cover 32 for the nozzle 16 with downturned lateral flanges.

- any suitable manner to the inner wall of the head 3, has its free end passing through a circular opening in the upright portion of the rectangular carr1er21, so that the latter is in sliding engagement with said rod 22. A helical spring 23 surrounds said rod 22 between the carrier 21 and the inner wall of the head 3, and tends to move the carrier 21 to the left, Fig. 1, to bring the nozzle cover 22 into operative position. From the under side of the slide 20 there projects downwardly a pin 24, said pin projet-ting through a longitudinal slot 25, Fig, 2, in the under side of the guide groove 19 in the bracket 18, and having attached thereto one end of a chain 26 which passes over two guide rolls 27, 28 mounted in the forked ends of brackets Qt), 30, respectively, rigidly attached in any suitable manner to the inner wall of the head The other end of the chain 26 is herein attached to the upper end of a rod 31, passing through a guide opening therefor in the bottom of the head 3' and having its lower end pivoted at 32 to a treadle pivoted at 34 to an ear rigidly attached in any suitable manner to the base 2 or cast integral therewith. leaf spring 30 tends to keep the treadlc 33 normally ra sed. That part of the rod extending upward-1y into the head 3 is pr ferably containedin a loosely fitting tube 37, having its lower end attached in suitable watertight manner to the bottom wall of the heaql 3, and its upper end extending above the level of the ice containtal in the head 3, to

prevent leakage. '1 he free end of the treadll plays m a suitable opening-1* provided m the base 2 of the column 1, the end of the treadle not extending beyond the periphery of the base 2 when in its lowered position.

From the constructimi described it will be clear that on depression of the treadle the rod 31, being drawn down, will cause the chain 96 to draw the slide 20 to the right, in Fig. 1, thus withdrawing the nozzle cover 2:2 from the nozzle 16 against the tension of the spring 2 ()n release of the treadle the latter will be raised by the spring 3t and the slide :20 will be pushed to the h-l't, Fig. 1, by the spring v nozzle 16. If desired, the spring 2 could be chosen sufficiently strong to raise the treadle,-as well as to move the slide 20. and the spring 36 dispensed with. but the construction embodying both springs is preferred, as thereby the spring '23 may be (b05011 of sufficient strength only to maintain the necessary tension on the chain 2!; and effect the required movement of the slide 20, withhut making the movement of the latter too violent. If desired, a collar (not shown) may be adjustably clamped to the rod 22 as bya set screw (not shown) for the abutment for the right end of the thus covering the l the continued upward movmm-nt of trcadhlthe nozzle cover will complete its move- 1 men! to cover the nozzle 16.

spring 23, thereby providing for adjustment of the tension of the latter, as desired. An adjustable stop (not shown) may also be provided to limit, as desired, the downward movement of the treadle 33.

Means are provided to control the flow of water. Herein said means consist of a valve ll provided in the supply pipe 5. Said valve may be of any suitable construction, consisting preferably of a spring valve, of usual construction, that is to say one which is normally maintained closed by a spring to cut off the Water supply. -The valve in itself forms no part of the invention, and will not be more fully described. Means also provided for opening and closing the valve, said means being preferably herein controlled by the treadle 33, the arrangement being preferably such that when the treadle is depressed, the nozzle cover 22 will first be withdrawn from the nozzle 16 and then the valve opened, while, when the treadle is allowed to rise, the valve all will .With the parts in that position, if the treadle be dcpresseththe lost motion formed by the slot 39 ,\\'Ill permit the nozzle cover 22 to be drawn suiliclently to the right, Fig.

i l. to uncover the nozzle 16, whereupon in the further downward ll'lOVClHQI'lt of the treadlc the upper end of the slot \\1ll meet the v: lve controlling arm 40 and turn the latter downward to open the valve, the cover completing its movement to the right. if the treadle be allowed to rise the spring (not shown) in the spring valve will cause the arm 40 to follow the upper end of the slot 3! in its upward li'iovenu-ni until said arm reaches theliniit of its upward swing, the valve being thus closed during the first part 'of the movement of the. slide ill to the lel't.,lig. '1, and before the nozzle cover 22 rent-hes the nozzle, whereupon in .be connected to the bottom of the head by a helical contraction spring (not shown) to maintain the arm 40 normally in raised valve closing position.

One advantagetoitl'erpd by the present invention consists in the fact that the water supply is at all times under control, the How of \vateubcing cut off at all. times except when a person is actually using the fountain. This represents a great saving in water, a great recommendation in any case, but more particularly where there is a limited supply. Another advantage resides in the fact that, except. when actually in use, the nozzle of this fountain is securely covered, thereby protecting it from dust or being tampered with in any way, shape or manner. The possibility of the nozzles be coming infections from street dust, handling by those atllicted with contagious diseases, or from the introduction thereinto of unclean matter by children or others, more particularly when set up in public places, is therefore precluded. One of the great objections to public drinking fountains, the transmission of disease, is therefore avoided by the drinking fountain constructed in accordance with this invention, said fountain being hygienic in a high degree.

While details of mechanical devices have been shown which have been found Well adapted to carry the invention into effect, it is to be understood that said invention is not restricted or circumscribed thereby, the essentials of the invention being defined in the claims by intentionally broad language connn-ehensive of various forms or embodiments of the invention.

Having described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a drinking fountain of the class described, water supplying means comprising a discharge opening, a coverfor said dis charge opening connected to a slide, a treadle, and connections intermediate said treadle and slide whereby operation of said treadle will actuate the slide to Withdraw said cover from operative position.

2. In a drinking fountain of the class described, water supplying means comprising a pipe, a nozzle, a movable cover for said nozzle, a slide, treadle controlled means for moving said slide to place the cover in position to cover the nozzle, and treadle actuated means reversely to move said slide to Withdraw said ccvcr from said position.

3. In a drinking fountain of the class described, water supplying means comprising a pipe and a discharge opening, a valve in said pipe, a movable cover for said discharge opening, and manually controlled connections between said valve and cover, comprising a lost motion, for operating said valve and moving said cover.

4. In a drinking fountain of the class described, water supplying means comprising a pipe and a discharge opening, a basin surrounding said discharge opening, a casing surrounding said pipe and said' basin, an opening in said casing located above said basin and nearer that side of said casing at which a person stands when drinking, a movable cover for said discharge opening, supply controlling means, and means operable by the person drinking for movihg said cover to and from covering position and actuating, said supply controlling means.

5. In a drinking fountain of the class de- 1, scribed, Water supplying means including a discharge opening, a cover for said discharge opening, means for moving said cover into covering position, water supply control ling means, and means for actuating said supply qontrollingtmeans to stop the flow of water and for controlling the movement of said cover by said cover moving means.

6 I151 a dri king fountain of the class de scribe water supplying means including a discharge opening, a cover for said discharge opening, yiclding means for moving said cover into covering position, water supply controlling means, and means fdr actuating said supply controlling means to stop the flow of water and for controllingjthe movement of said cover by saidcover moving means.

7 In a drinking fountain of the class described, Water supplying means including a nozzle having a discharge opening, means for covering said opening, means for relatively moving said covering means and nozzle to cover said opening, water supply controlling means, and means for actuating said controlling means to stop the flow of water and for controlling the relative movement of said nozzle and covering means by said moving means.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HARRY HOWARD NEWCOMB.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. DAVIS, WARREN J. BALDWIN. 

